HK2 and breast carcinoma: Meanwhile, in malignant breast cancer cells, 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and HK2 protein levels increased, while downstream proteins phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1) and GAPDH levels did not change, suggesting that metabolic reprogramming and increased glucose utilization in tumor-associated adipose tissue were mainly targeted at the PPP 60.